B1 - Intermediate Spanish
At the B1 Intermediate level, students can understand and express themselves in higher level discussions.
Example situations might include expressing your opinion, asking for clarification, and understanding longer texts about familiar topics.
estar de canguro
babysitting
The Spanish phrase 'estar de canguro' translates to 'babysitting' in English. It is a colloquial expression often used in Spain, and its literal translation is 'to be as a kangaroo'. This is in relation to how kangaroos carry their young in their pouch, analogous to taking care of children. It is used when someone is temporarily taking care of someone else's child or children.
estar de luna de miel
be on honeymoon
The Spanish phrase 'estar de luna de miel' translates to 'be on honeymoon' in English. This is a phrase used to describe the vacation that couples take right after their wedding to celebrate their new marriage, traditionally filled with romance and happiness. It's a time to enjoy one another's company and start their life together as a married couple in a relaxed and intimate environment.
estar de pie
stand
The Spanish translation of 'stand' is 'estar de pie'. It implies the action of standing up or being in a standing position. This Spanish word is often used in sentences to refer to the ongoing state of being upright. For instance, 'Estoy de pie' translates to 'I am standing'. This phrase can differ in various contexts as Spanish verbs change according to the tense and subject.
Example sentences with estar de pie →estar de vacaciones
be on vacation
The Spanish phrase 'estar de vacaciones' directly translates to the English phrase 'be on vacation'. Its core function is to describe a state or condition someone is in, primarily about being on a break adorned by traveling or leisure activities outside of usual work or school commitments. Often, 'estás de vacaciones' is used when asking someone if they're on vacation.
estar embarazada
pregnant
The term 'estar embarazada' in Spanish directly translates to 'being pregnant' in English. It is used to indicate that a woman is carrying an unborn child in her uterus. The verb 'estar' implies a temporary state in Spanish, so the phrase translates to 'being pregnant', emphasizing the temporary state of pregnancy.
estar en guerra
to be at war
The Spanish phrase 'estar en guerra' is translated into English as 'to be at war'. This phrase is often used to depict a state of open and declared armed hostile conflict between states or nations, or a period of such conflict. It can also be used metaphorically to express a condition of rivalry, as in competition or conflict between persons, groups, or concepts.
Example sentences with estar en guerra →estar en urgencias
being in emergency
The Spanish phrase 'estar en urgencias' translates to 'being in emergency' in English. This phrase is generally used in a medical setting to indicate a state of emergency or immediate medical need. It can refer to personally being in such a state, or can be used to describe another person or situation. It can be used literally, for actual medical emergencies, or figuratively, to express a state of urgent need or crisis. To use it in a context, someone might say 'Mi hermano está en urgencias' which means 'My brother is in emergency.'
estar enamorado
being in love
The phrase 'estar enamorado' in Spanish translates to 'being in love' in English. It is most commonly used to express romantic sentiment towards someone, reflecting deep affection and strong admiration for that person. It's an expression of intense emotional attachment characterized by passion, intimacy, and commitment.
estar estresado
Being stressed
The Spanish phrase 'estar estresado' translates to 'being stressed' in English. It is used to express a state of mental or emotional strain or tension, usually resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances. Similar to its English counterpart, this phrase can be used in a variety of contexts, such as personal stress due to workload, relationship issues, or general life pressures. This phrase is typically used in conversational and descriptive Spanish.
estar libre
to be free
The Spanish term 'estar libre' directly translates to 'to be free' in English. It is composed of the verb 'estar' which means 'to be' in the context of a transient state or condition, and the adjective 'libre' meaning 'free', often used to express freedom or lack of restriction. It is generally employed when referring to conditions or situations where one is not confined, controlled, or limited, and can act according to their will.
estar mal informado
being misinformed
The Spanish phrase 'estar mal informado' translates to 'being misinformed' in English. It is used to indicate a situation where a person does not have the correct or complete information about a certain subject or event. It suggests that the person's understanding or knowledge is incorrect due to incorrect or insufficient information that they have been given.
estar mareado
be dizzy
The phrase 'estar mareado' in Spanish translates to 'be dizzy' in English. This is generally used to express a feeling of imbalance or a spinning sensation which can be because of various reasons such as sickness, a fast circular motion, or a sudden movement. In Spanish, it's a condition often accompanied by the verb 'estar' which suggests a temporary state or feeling. A person might use this phrase to describe their health condition at that moment.
estar moreno
to be dark
The Spanish phrase 'estar moreno' is often used to describe a person's complexion or skin tone. In English, it can be roughly translated to 'to be dark' or 'to be tan'. It is typically used to describe someone who has a darker or tanned skin color, possibly due to sun exposure or natural pigmentation. It's important to note that the term 'moreno' itself can also be used to describe hair color — similar to 'brunette' in English. The usage depends on the context.
estar ocupado
to be busy
The Spanish phrase 'estar ocupado' translates to 'to be busy' in English. It's often used to explain that someone is actively engaged or heavily involved in a task or activity and thus doesn't have time to do other things. It can refer to occupation in both professional and personal contexts, and can encapsulate either short-term or long-term states of busyness.
estar resfriado
being cold
The phrase 'estar resfriado' in Spanish does not directly translate to 'being cold' in English. Rather, it is used to express the state of 'having a cold' or 'being sick with a cold'. It's important to realize the distinction here, as 'cold' in English can imply two things: the temperature being low or a common illness. In this case, 'estar resfriado' refers to the latter.
Example sentences with estar resfriado →estar roto/estropeado
to be broken / damaged
The term 'estar roto/estropeado' in Spanish translates to 'be broken / damaged' in English. Especially used in the context of objects, this term is an adjective phrase used to describe something that is not functioning as it is supposed to due to some form of physical or functional damage. It can also be used metaphorically to describe a complicated or unfavorable situation.
estar sano
Being healthy
The Spanish phrase 'estar sano' translates to 'being healthy' in English. This phrase can be used to express a person's health condition in a positive manner where 'sano' means 'healthy' and 'estar' is a verb that could mean 'to be', giving a sense of a temporary state, hence 'being healthy'. In context, it is used to describe a person who maintains a good health condition, free from illness or diseases. It can also be used to describe a good health condition resulted from balanced diet and regular exercise.
Example sentences with estar sano →estar sentado
sitting
The Spanish phrase 'estar sentado' translates to 'sitting' in English. The phrase is used to describe the action of being seated, or currently resting in a seated position. It is the present participle of the verb 'sentar' in conjunction with the verb 'estar' which is used to indicate ongoing or current states or actions.
este
east
The Spanish word 'este' is used to describe the cardinal direction east. It is equivalent to the English term and can be used in similar contexts, such as geographical descriptions, navigational instructions, or even more symbolic contexts like referring to the direction of the sunrise.
Example sentences with este →estilo clásico
classic style
The Spanish term 'estilo clásico' translates to 'classic style' in English. This refers to the traditional artistic and architectural style that is inspired by the principles of ancient Greek and Roman culture. This style is marked by qualities such as simplicity, symmetry, and proportionality. In the broader context, 'classic style' could also refer to the traditional or conventional method, appearance, or design of anything, be it fashion design, literature, music, or other artistic and non-artistic disciplines.
estilo moderno
Modern style
The phrase 'estilo moderno' in Spanish translates to 'modern style' in English. It is commonly used in reference to contemporary, up-to-date fashions or designs. This term is applicable to various fields, such as art, architecture, fashion, interior design, and more. Being of the 'modern style' generally signifies being current, trendy, or aligned with the styles and tastes of the present or recent times.
estudiante en prácticas
student in internship
The term 'estudiante en prácticas' in Spanish refers to a student who is currently obtaining practical experience in their field of study as part of their curriculum. This is usually accomplished through a temporary job placement known as an internship. An internship allows the student to apply their theoretical knowledge to real-world situations, often under the supervision and guidance of an experienced professional.
estudiar
study
'Estudiar' translates to 'study' in English. It's used when referring to the act of acquiring knowledge or skill by studying, practicing or being taught.
Example sentences with estudiar →estudiar de memoria
study memory
The Spanish phrase 'estudiar de memoria' directly translates to 'study from memory' in English. However, it is more conceptually similar to the English phrase 'to memorize'. It refers to the process of thoroughly learning and remembering information for future use, often in the context of academic study or preparing for tests. In many cultures, this is a common method for learning and internalizing knowledge.
estudiar el bachillerato
to study high school
The Spanish phrase 'estudiar el bachillerato' translates to 'study high school' in English. It indicates the action of receiving an education at the high school level. It is often used in regard to academic studies or when discussing educational achievement or plans.
estudiar un doctorado
study a doctorate
The phrase 'estudiar un doctorado' in Spanish translates to 'study a doctorate' in English. This phrase is typically used in the context of higher education, specifying one's intention to engage in advanced studies beyond a master's degree, leading to a doctoral degree. A person who says 'estudiar un doctorado' is likely to be communicating their plan or desire to pursue a PhD or any similar highest level of university degree given in many countries.
estudiar un máster
study a master's degree
The Spanish phrase 'estudiar un máster' translates to 'study a master's degree' in English. This refers to the act of engaging in a postgraduate program that results in earning a master's degree. This high level of academic study typically comes after completion of an undergraduate degree and can encompass a wide range of specific fields, such as arts, sciences, business, and more. The phrase can be used in various contexts such as expressing future educational goals or discussing academic accomplishments.
estudiar una carrera
study a career
The Spanish phrase 'estudiar una carrera' translates to 'study a career' in English. This generally refers to specializing in a specific field of study at a university or other higher education institution with the intention of pursuing that field as a career. For example, 'estudiar una carrera en medicina' would mean to study a career in medicine, implying that the individual is studying to become a medical professional.
Europa
Europe
The Spanish word 'Europa' translates to 'Europe' in English. Europe is a continent with a vast diversity of languages, cultures, and histories. It is the second smallest continent, yet it has the second largest population. Composed of 50 countries, some of which have territories and dependencies around the world, Europe has had a profound impact on the world's economy, history, and culture.
Example sentences with Europa →evaporarse
evaporate
The Spanish word 'evaporarse' translates to 'evaporate' in English. It is a verb and it is usually used in the context of a liquid turning into vapor, especially as a result of heat. It can also be used in a metaphorical sense, for example when something disappears or ceases to exist suddenly and completely, it could be said to have 'evaporated'.
Example sentences with evaporarse →